Leaders, particularly in politics, are often viewed in a limited manner that confines them to their professional roles. This is why any deviation from the expected behaviour is often made a spectacle of.

Things like former US President Obama’s seasonal playlists that are a far cry from typical everyday politics have not only coloured outside the lines, but also instigated the notion that there is a personality beyond the influential public figures, and expressing that side of oneself is arguably one of the best ways to connect with people.

Setting out to explore this unconventional style of conversation with public figures in Rwanda was a debatable decision because of how reserved they always seem to be, but the exclusive interview The New Times had with veteran politician Tito Rutaremara amplified the narrative that there is a personality behind the suit.

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Connecting with young people

One of the most intriguing things about the soon-to-be 80-year-old politician is his innate ability to appeal simultaneously to people whose ages classify them either as Gen X, millennials, or Gen Z.

Upon asking how he is able to maintain these connections despite the notably lengthy age gap, Rutaremara reminisced on how his upbringing in Uganda and his days as a cadet for the RPF required him to interact with young people from different walks of life, and getting them on the same page with Rwanda’s progression might have influenced his initial connection with young people, but that was only the beginning.

"I spent a lot of time with young people when I was mobilising RPF armed forces in the 90s. I was 40 at the time but I could understand and relate to them a lot, and that hasn’t changed, because I am young at heart.”

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Rutaremara elaborated that one of the most utilised items in his tool belt is communication, which he does often through platforms like X, (formerly Twitter) to reach the masses and interact with them. Twitter, he said, has become part of his morning routine. His ability to resonate with young people also stemmed from those he’s lived with consistently and whom he encounters on day-to-day.

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"Interacting with the youth has shown me that the best way to reach them is through social media. I use Twitter and YouTube to speak to them about our history in a way that is easy to consume. The young people I have lived with over the years have helped me resonate with youthful mindsets and politics.”

Love to dance

An inquisitive mind wouldn’t be satisfied with the mere utter of being young at heart with no context, and upon asking Rutaremara what exactly he has in common with the youth, it was a welcome surprise to see him emulate vibrancy as he reminisced and told stories of his own youth, a time characterised with a healthy balance of work and play.

He joyously acknowledged that one of the activities he enjoyed most was going out dancing, which he carried on to his 50s despite it being frowned upon by an uptight Rwandan community.

His age caught up with him prompting his retirement from the dance floor, which had also been influenced by the extent to which it defied social norms.

"There are some activities young people do that I can’t do today because it is not socially acceptable for someone my age to do that, for example I used to enjoy going out dancing when I was younger but I can’t dance like I used to. Even socially, people might look and think ‘why is that old man not sitting down?’” he remarked with a hint of laughter.

He shared that one of his latest fun conquests had been imitating a South African dance amidst watching people jam to it, and he was able to successfully emulate it.

"I observed some young people doing a South African dance and I could visualise myself following the rhythm so I joined in and enjoyed. I usually just observe because my physique and energy aren’t what they used to be, otherwise, I would dance my way to the floor like others.”

One of the more enjoyable things his age and physique haven’t restrained him from participating in is his post-work evening routine, which is when he truly relaxes.

According to the 79-year-old, his evenings usually start with watching the news then transition to Latin American television series referred to as ‘telenovelas’, for at least two hours every evening, with the occasional basketball game. He shared his fascination with the telenovela filmmaking style and how it breaks the routine of mainstream American films.

"I watch the news then I watch TV series. These days I enjoy watching series from Latin America. They have a unique criteria and I like that Africans are adopting the style with Afro-novelas which South Africa and Ghana have been doing. I like that they are well crafted. Secondly it breaks the routine of watching American films and I like the suspense in telenovelas,” he said.

Wedding weekends

Rutaremara has grown accustomed to social weekends since his return to Rwanda in the late 90s, and his agenda usually has weddings on the roster on Fridays through Sunday, which is something he started doing for his family and orphaned soldiers intent on getting married.

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Rutaremara’s typical role in every wedding he attends is that of main family representative loosely translated from the Kinyarwanda term (umukwe mukuru) whose role entails asking for or being asked for a bride’s hand in marriage publicly during the Gusaba ceremony.

"From Fridays to Sundays, I am socialising, usually at weddings. When we first returned, quite a number of soldiers wanted me to serve as a representative at their wedding ceremonies and that became the norm.

"My colleagues who planned on getting married also started asking me to do that at their weddings and eventually young men and women followed suit, and I now have weddings to attend almost every weekend, and that’s one of the ways I connect with people. I enjoy watching people have a good time and I like having conversations with different people at these events,” said Rutaremara.